hbiff(1) hbiff(1)
HP-UX HP-UX
NAME
hbiff - check for incoming mail using X11
SYNOPSIS
hbiff [ options ]
DESCRIPTION
lll.
option .Xdefaults description
-display specifies the display to use -u T{ the user
who's mailbox is to be checked T} -m T{ name of the mailbox to
be checked (can be any file) T} -H noHostname T{ do not display
hostname in hbiff window T} -fn fontName specifies the font to use
-fg foreground specifies the foreground color
-bg background specifies the background color
-bc borderColor specifies the border color
-bw borderWidth specifies the border width -t time T{ specifies
the interval for checking the mailbox T} -pop newMailRaise raise to
top when new mail -beep newMailBeep T{ notify with sound when
new mail T} -tally tally T{ show number of messages, and new
messages T} -sn showNewMail T{ pop up summary window with
information about new mail messages when received T}
-R newMailReverse T{ reverse video when new mail T}
-r reverseVideo T{ reverse video (mainly useful for monochrome) T}
-ro reverseOrder T{ reverse order of messages in summary window T}
-F noFlash do not flash the window -g =HxW+x+y T{ the size
and placement of the window T} geometry T{ the size and
placement of the window T} newMailForeground T{ Foreground
color when new mail T} newMailBackground T{ Background color
when new mail T} summaryForeground T{ Foreground color for
summary window T} summaryBackground T{ Background color for
summary window T} -summaryGeometry =+x+y summaryGeometry T{
placement of summary window T} mailCommand T{ command to
execute when the right button is pressed T} -name string name T{
name to display (if not the hostname) T} c s, l l.
Example .Xdefaults entries:
hbiff*mailCommand: hpterm -geometry =80x24+10+15 -e mail
hbiff*borderWidth: 1 hbiff*newMailRaise: on hbiff*foreground: navy
hbiff*background: wheat hbiff*fontName: 6x10
hbiff*noHostname: on hbiff*newMailForeground: white
hbiff*newMailBackground: CornflowerBlue hbiff*newMailBeep: on
The utility hbiff indicates the current state of an electronic
mailbox. The default mailbox is /usr/mail/$LOGNAME, but an alternate
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hbiff(1) hbiff(1)
HP-UX HP-UX
file may be indicated by using the -m option.
New mail is indicated by a raised flag and mail hanging out of the
mailbox, and may be accompanied by the window changing color if
desired by the user. Old mail is indicated by mail hanging out of the
mailbox with no flag raised, while no mail is indicated by an empty
mailbox. If the -tally option is used (or the *tally resource is on),
the total number of messages in the mailbox will be displayed, and the
number of new messages will be displayed when new mail is detected.
To exit hbiff, press shift right button, or type "q" with the cursor
in the window. To get the mail command, press the right mouse button.
Pressing button2 (the middle button) will cause a window with the
"From" and "subject" line of each mail message to appear. During the
time the "From" window is visible, if the right mouse button is
pressed on the mailbox window, the "From" window will go away and the
mail command will be executed, all in one action. Any other
keypresses or button presses while the "From" window is present will
result in the "From" window disappearing, no other action will occur.
If the mailbox icon indicates new mail, pressing the left mouse button
will cause the flag to go down (this was requested since some mailers
do not use separate folders, and it is necessary to drop the flag
after deleting mail and exiting the mailer).
The most recent mail message is indicated with a '>' before it.
Summary information from new mail messages can be automatically
displayed by using the -sn option or *showNewMail resource. When new
mail is detected, hbiff will notify the user and then pop up a summary
window showing only the mail that has been received since hbiff
detected that the mailbox was last accessed.
To turn off window decoration (borders not supplied by the
application), use the clientDecoration directive in the .Xdefaults
file (i.e., Mwm*HBiff.clientDecoration: +none).
For best results when running a command executed by hbiff, use the
*ttyModes resource for the hpterm or xterm you are using. This allows
setting the stty parameters that would otherwise be set by the shell
on initiation.
AUTHOR
hbiff was written by Hugh Mahon.
SEE ALSO
xterm(1X), hpterm(1X), elm(1), mailx(1)
- 2 - Formatted: November 4, 2025